Guardians of the Galaxy is a spectacularly entertaining, action packed space adventure that is as funny as it is thrilling.

If space adventures were categorised as music genres than Guardians of the Galaxy would be rock ‘n’ roll: Big, brass, energetic and with attitude to burn.

Unlike Captain America and Iron Man, this is an adaptation of a much more recent comic book title that most outside of the fanboy collective would not have heard of. All the better.

Co-written and directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy is a pleasant surprise from start to finish, an all-rounder of a blockbuster that excels in making us laugh as potently as it awes with its sensational action packed style.

A lot of the film’s success is due to the strength of its memorable, fun characters, a motley crew of outsiders brought together in pursuit of a mysterious orb that gives ultimate power to those who possess it.

In a star making turn, Chris Pratt (known to many for his work on TV comedy series Parks and Recreation) plays Peter Quill aka Star-Lord, an over confident outlaw whose penchant for greed lands him in deep do-do when every being in the galaxy from genocidal tyrant Ronan (Lee Pace) to blue skinned space pirate Yondu (Michael Rooker) sets their gaze on the orb in Quill’s possession.

Teaming up with misfits even more messed up than he is - green skinned assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), muscle bound warrior Drax (Dave Bautista), walking tree Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel who also provided motion capture work), and wise cracking, genetically modified racoon Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) – Quill leads his team of anti-heroes in a stand against Ronan with the fate of the galaxy in the balance.

Much like Quill’s mix-tape cassette that plays soundtrack to this galactic set adventure (nothing like the sounds of Marvin Gaye and Blue Suede during space set battle), Guardians of the Galaxy has a lot of everything and excels in every facet.

A keen and personable cast brilliantly deliver Gunn and co-writer Nicole Perlman’s sharp writing, with Cooper’s voice work as Rocket especially strong, bringing the right amount of comedic value to what has to be the funniest comic book/sci-fi movie released yet.

Gunn has also delivered a very well structured action movie, more than proving his worth as a blockbuster visualist who knows how to choreograph an action scene, yet do so to the beat of his own off-the-wall rhythm, where any amount of surprises can and will pop up to remind that this is not your conventional comic book sci-fi movie.

Guardians of the Galaxy is another triumph for Marvel Studios. Many will not know much about the comic book it is based on going in, but be sure that afterwards plenty will be talking about the movie with much enthusiasm.